Jointed fluorescent lamp fixture which may be collapsed for shipment



March 4, 1952 MIDED ETAL FLUORESCENT LAMP FIXTURE WHICH JOINTED MAY BECOLLAPSED FOR SHIPMENT 2 Sl-IEETS-SI-IEET 1 Filed March 18, 194"!nyd$rdm i l-M March 1952 MlDED ETAL 2,583,144

"L. JOINTED FLUORESCENT LAMP FIXTURE WHICH MAY BE COLLAPSED'FOR SHIPMENTFiled March 18, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 2 ,g wd/ Patented Mar. 4, 1952 IGIN TED FLUORESCENT LAMP "FIXTURE WHICH MAY BE 'COLLAPSED"FOR SHIP-LouisMided and :Henry C. Gorden, Chicago, Ill.,

assignors to Good Manufacturing Company,

Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of? Illinois ApplicationMarchJB,1947,.Senial N0.'.'Z35,454

I 13 Claims. 1

Thisinvention relates in general to .an .electric lighting fixture .of.the .straight fluorescent tube typezandisimoreiparticularlydescribed,as a fixture of this .class which is.foldable .-for com-- pactlystoring .and shipping it.

Electric lighting fixtures for the straight forms of fluorescent lampsare necessarily long to accommodate the longer lamps and if they areintended .toreceiveaiplurality ofv lamps, the fixture parts ..forsupporting :the lamps are bulky and cumbersome both for storage andiorshipment.

The present invention relates more particularly to fixture supportingparts which are foldable when not in use,.for storage and shipment, intoa compact package. The foldable parts are directly hingedto anintermediateipart so that they may be easily extended bysimply unfoldingthem for the receptionof the .lamps and toplace the fixturein use.

An important object of the invention isto provide an electric lightingfixture for straightftubular lamps which has ,parts foldable togetherfor compactly storing and shipping 'thefixture parts exclusive of thelamps.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable electriclightingifixture for straight tubular lamps in which each of the lampsupporting .heads .is .hinged .to one end of .an -intermediate .part,the head of .thatpartjfolding over the .oppositeendtof .the intermediatepart.

.A further objectof Ithe invention is to provide an electric'lightingifixture for straight tubular lampshavinglampsupporting'headswith recesses at 'the top for inserting tubular lamps therein withoutdanger of the lamps falling from the supportingheads eitherin attachingor releasing them therefrom.

A further object of the invention 'is"to"provide an electric lightingfixture having a central supporting portion withtubularlampshingedthereto and extensiblein opposite direction's'with'atop' plate hinged to the central supporting portion'and attachable toa ceiling lighting fixture "so that access maybe had to the supportingpart of the fixture whileit is suspended in openpositionfrom theceiling; plate.

A further object of the invention'is toprovide a fol'dable electriclighting 'fixture with tubular lamp supporting heads and each headhaving an attachable end piece extending over the head and holdingitplace, the end piece 'being'removable for placingsimilar ffixtures closetogether in alignment and'to .uncovera knock-"out opening forinterconnection of conductors between Other objectsof theinvention willappearin thespecification and will be .apparentlfrom the accompanyingdrawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a top view of an electric .lightingf fixture in accordancewith thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fixtures'hown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is .a 'bottom view of .the fixture ,parts without the vlampsinfoldedrelation; Fig. 4 is a side view of .the parts in an upside downposition as shown, in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5is asectional-detail showingthelocation of the parts in foldedupside down relation as taken .onthe line5- 5 .of;Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is-a sectional .view ,of .the supporting-Dart. of the fixture inhinged relation to the .cover plate as-takenon the line T66 of .Fig. .2.

Many different electric lighting fixtures ro'r. straight tubular lampsarenow prodiicedIin which the lamps are variously.mountedliniheadsslightly longer thanthe lengthof .thetubfilar'l'amps with accompanying,.intermediateor .supportingstructure which is substantially coincidentlength with .the lamps and the heads. This. requires. not only a heavyand cumbersome 'lampIsupporting' structure, but also,.it necessitates .acontainer off large size for receivingshipping anasmnng'the fixtureparts. I R

.The present invention overcomes lthese. objec- .tions by -mo.unting-allTofTthe necessary trans-' formers, ballasts .and contact makers inLa r.latively short, intermediate, supporting :container and in.hingingeachof .the' lamp supportingheads I near one. endof theintermediatelsupport. so that when .folded, itswings .over theIopp'ositeend or 'the intermediatesupport. This produces accompactstructure when .ioldedjwliichirequires a'container' of much Illesssi'zewhich is more easily stored and shipped;

Referring now moreparticularly tothe draw- 'ings, this fixture comprisesa. central oriinter mediate hollow support "I? preferably. made of sheet.metal .and having a cover 11 :connected thereto at one side byfliinges' 1'2; "In Lthe'cover is a central -opening [3 for 'a fixture'stud,'"and* -them' together.

With this construction, the cover TH may, be

disengaged from the remainder of"the"fixture and attachedtothefixture-stemfirra'ceiling and then .thesupporting partsmay"be'attaichedtlrere= 1 adjacent fixtures for controlling theirlighting. '66 toby connectingthe'hinges'ofthehdllowsupportj thereto,leaving the parts in a partially open posit1on as indicated m Fig. 6 sothat wiring connections and other adjustments may be made belore thesupport 1s closed agamst the cover and hem 111 place by the lastehlngscrew In.

Pro ecting from the uottom or the support I is an angular no II with anopening m at each enu or the run in the bottom or the container arm atone SlQe or the rib.

A DOllUW triangular par 20 of sheet metal is OOIlheUteu E0 0116 filueDI. the triangular llD 1182.1 each end tnereor by a hinge 2|, the nmgesror OPPuSlDG bars being at opposite sides or me no anu at opposite ehusthereor so that each bar wm swmg rrom a position against one side or thetriangular no as shown in rigs. 3 and 4 to an extended position at theUPPOSLBB enu as shown in rigs. l and 2.

near the mnged end of each hollow bar 28 is an opemng Zz wmcn registersmm the corresponum opemng Id 1n the bottom of the container when theIlOllOW bar is in extended pos1- tion so that communication is auorueubetween the hollow bar and the mterior 01 the support In for the passageanu'msertion of electncal conouctors. AD the enu or each openmg zzOPPUSlDE the hinge is an outwardly turned pro ection 23 which is locatedto extend outs1ue or the end or the support no when the oar 1s inextended pos1- tion so that a rastemng screw 24 may oe inserted throughthe projection anu through the ad acent wall or the support to hOlCl thehollow bar in its extended position.

At the outer end of each hollow bar 20 is a lamp supporting heau Z5wh1cn extends crosswise or the supporting bar and is provided with apmrahty or sockets zu I01'1eC8lvl11g the enu contacts of a correspondingpluranty of lamps 2|. 'lhe sockets are disposed within the heads, eachof which has a flange 28 at the bottom for rece1ving the one or the lamptherem so it will not fall from the fixture even though disengaged fromthe socket. The upper edge 01' each head is formed with a recess 2:!between adjacent sockets so that each lamp may be inserted through therecess 29 in the opposite ends and engaged w1th the sockets in theopposite heads 25.

To secure each head 25 in position at the end of the hOllOW supportingbar 20, a clamp 3.1 has a hook 3| at one end adapted to be insertedthrough anopening 32 in the hollow bar 2a to extend around the outsideof the head 25 and with a flange 33 at its other end adapted to extendover the opposite or uppermost end of the bar 20 when extended, and afastening screw 34 inserted through the flange and into the wall of thehollow bar. With this construction, each head 25 is held firmly inposition against tilting movement relative to its supporting hollow bar20, and the outer ends of the heads are not movable angularly todislodge the lamps when inserted in and supported by the heads.

When it is desired to place a number of these lighting fixtures closetogether in alignment, the end clamps may be omitted and the heads 25secured only by a fastening screw, leaving the heads of adjacentfixtures close together. For this arrangement, that portion of each headwhich is covered by the clamp may be provided with a knock-out disc 35partially connected to the head which may be removed for affordingcommunication between the adjacent fixtures through their hollowsupporting bars 20, the knockout being located at the end of the hollowbar.

With this construction, the fixture is stored and shipped in itscollapsed posit1on, thereby requiring contamers which are only aboutone-half the size of those requned for the ordinary nxture supports orthe lamps or the same size. in e1tner event, the lamps are separatelysupplied and are neither sni ed nor stored with the nxture supportingparts.

HCIBUULUI'B in installing a lighting fixture, two K1811 are usuallynecessary same the nxture is too heavy for one man to hold anu make theconnections wmle securmg 1t to the wan or to a suitable nxturesupporting stem. 1n the present case, the fixture supporting cover isattached to the fixture stud or other ceilmg support, the remainingportion of the fixture 1nc1uu1ng the support In is hooked upon the coverII by means or the hinges I: by one man who then makes the necessarycircuit connecmons. 'l'he supportmg hOllOW bars 20 may then be extendedand fastened securely 1n place arter WhlOIl the lamps are inserted Iromthe top through the recesses 29 without danger of dropping the lampseven though they are not engaged in the sockets.

The details or the conductors, trahsrormers, ballasts or other lightingfixture parts are not necessary to the understanding or thisll'lvEl'lDlOll and may be of any ordinary or standard constluction andarrangement. The container support Ill and the hOllOW bars 2d aresumciently large to receive these parts and to form ample space forconnecting and storing them.

Although the preferred construction of this lighting fixture has beendescribed in some detail, it should be regarded as an illustration andnot as a limitation or the invention, as various changes in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of the parts may be maoewithout departing IIOm the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. An electric lighting fixture for straight tubular lamps, comprisingan intermediate support less in length than the lamps therefor, a pairof heads for engaging the opposite end of each lamp, and meansconnecting each head to swing upon the support and over the opposite endof the support in compactly folding the fixture parts.

2. An electric lighting fixture for straight tubular lamps, comprising apair of lamp supporting heads, an arm extending from each head, acentral support to which each arm is hinged so that the arm will swingagainst the support in folding the head over the opposite end of thesupport.

3. An electric lighting fixture for straight tubular lamps, comprising apair of lamp supporting heads, an arm attached to each of the heads, anintermediate support to which each arm is hinged, the hinge of one armbeing at an angle to the hinge of the other arm so that each head willfold over the opposite end of the support free and clear of the otherhead and substantially parallel thereto.

4. In an electric lighting fixture for straight tubular lamps, a pair oflamp supporting heads, a hollow arm connected to each head, anintermediate support having a rib with webs at an angle to each other toeach of which one of the arms is pivoted, one hinge being on the rib atan angle to the other hinge, and the arms being foldable oppositely tofold the head over the opposite end of the support and adjacent thereto-in compactly folding the said fixture parts.

5. An electric lighting fixture for straight tu-" bular lamps,comprising a pair of lamp supporting heads, a hollow arm connected toeach head, an intermediate support having a projecting rib with webs atan angle to each other to each of which one of the arms is hinged, onehinge being at an angle to the other hinge and the arms being foldableoppositely so that each head will extend over the opposite end of thesupport and at right angles to its extended position with respect to thesupport.

6. An electric lighting fixture for straight tubular lamps, comprising apair of lamp supporting heads, a hollow arm attached to each of theheads, an intermediate support to which each of the arms is hinged forfolding it thereon, the hinge connection for one arm being spacedinwardly from the adjacent end of the support when the arm and head areextended, and the pivoted end of the arm and the adjacent end of thesupport having openings which register when the arm is in extendedposition.

'7. In an electric lighting fixture for straight tubular lamps, a pairof lamp supporting he ds. a hollow arm connected to each head, anintermediate support having a rib with webs at an angle to each other toone side of which each of the arms is pivoted near one end to swingoppositely over the other end in folding and to swing outwardly from thehinged end in extending the fixture, the support and the arm havingopenin s which register when the fixture head is extended to receiveelectrical conductors for the lamp heads therein.

8. In an electric lighting fixture for strai ht tubular lamps, a pair oflamp su porting heads, .2.

an arm attached at one end to each head, an intermediate support towhich the other end of each arm is pivoted near the end of t e su portso that the arm will swing over the support in foldin and will proiectat the ot er end when unfolded, each head having a pluralitv of lamp socets d sposed. within the heads and with a bottom retaining flange and anupper recessed edge in each head when the heads are in hori ontal lampsu porting position. the recesses pro iding means for insert n l mpsfrom the ton of the heads and the lo er flan e holding the lamns inposition in the heads when they are removed from the sockets.

9. An electric lighting fixture for straight tubular lamps, comprising apair of lamp supporting heads, an arm attached to each of the heads, anintermediate support to which each arm is hinged near the end of thesupport so that the head will fold over the opposite end of the supporthollow arm connected to each head, an intermediate support having aprojecting rib with webs at an angle to each other to each of which oneof the arms is hinged, one hinge being on the web at one side of the riband the other hinge being on the web at the other side of the ribadjacent opposite ends of the support, the hinged arms being foldableagainst the rib to project each head over the opposite end of thesupport, and the arms being aligned with the rib when the heads aremoved to their extended positions.

11. In an electric lighting fixture for straight tubular lamps, a pairof lamp supporting heads, an arm connected at one end to each head, anintermediate support to which the other end of each arm is hinged sothat the arm will swing against the support in folding the head over theopposite end of the support, the support having a cover connectedthereto by hinges at one side thereof, and fastenin means at t e otherside of the cover for en aging the opposite side of the support. andfixture fastenin means in the cover wherebv the cover may be att ched toa ceiling fixture and t e support with t e heads and arms connected tereto mav be mounted by the co er hin es so that the support will s ingopen from the co er at t e under side thereof.

12. In an electric lighting fixture for straight tubu ar la s accord nto claim 11. with a clamp for the head having a hook at one endextending throu h the head. the clamp extending around the outer side ofthe head and having a top flan e. and me ns for securing the flange tothe upper side of the arm.

13. In an electric lighting fixture for strai ht tubu ar larnm aoranrinw tn claim 11 A with a. clamp extendin over the outer end of each headhaving a hook extendin t rou h the head at the bottom and a flan eoverlvin t e arm at the top. and means securin t e flan e to the outerend of the arm and b ndin t e head in place. the tubular lamns being inerted between the heads in their extended positions.

LOTT Q IVI DED. HENRY C. GORDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,272,275 Pieper Feb. 10, 19422282.445 Alderman et al. May '12, 1942 2,288,376 Tuppen June 30, 19422,296,114 Mueller et al Sept. 15, 1942 2,306,908 Stiffel Dec. 29, 19422,308,986 Livers Jan. 19, 1943 2,323,002 Baker June 29, 1943 2344.935Whittaker Mar. 21, 1944 2,367,472 Schockett Jan. 16, 1945 2,414,485Reichart Jan. 21, 1947 2,422,857 Schockett June 24, 1947

